Understanding the role of trading in water quality management : based on U.S. experience

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2006.Includes bibliographical references.This research demonstrates an overview of the performance of water quality trading programs currently implemented within the U.S. The role of trading in water quality management is identified through systematical comparisons of all possible aspects related to trading process, structure, and scale of existing water quality trading programs. The role of trading focuses on the output of achieving standard ambient water quality and on increasing the flexibility of water quality management to enhance effectiveness and accommodate economic growth. The trading encourages independent polluters to make pollution control decisions that best suit their own situations. The trading reduces overall operating costs and distributes equity on water pollution control abatements between point sources and nonpoint sources. The achievement of each program is mainly affected by various factors that include (a) the flexibility of trading rules and water pollution regulations, (b) the polluters' obligation and financial ability to meet regulatory requirements, and (c) the localized characteristics of water pollution problems and diversity of polluters in a watershed. Any water quality trading framework should promote the principle of simplicity, reliability and minimal costs.(cont.) The recommended approaches for improving program implementation are to (a) shift towards a cap-and-trade system; (b) allow the execution of a multi-party permit; (c) establish a statewide trading policy; (d) set up a hybrid system (between tradable permit and tax/rebate system); and (e) test the practicality of a program on a smaller scale before actual implementation at a larger scale.by Chanathip Pharino.Ph.D

Critical Factors and Their Correlation Affecting Green Industry Performance: Evidences from Small and Medium Enterprises

Large companies have achieved excellent progress toward green production while small and medium enterprises (SMEs) showed limited progress. This research aims to investigate key factors affect different stages of enhancing green industry implementation particularly in SMEs. This study conducted a systematic analysis to offer recommendations to unlock the inhibitors of the green industry. The electronic products and electrical equipment manufacturing industry in Thailand was chosen as a case study. Questionnaire is the main approach to collect primary data from SMEs. The structural equation model is developed to examine correlation and the degree of influencing factors. The model indicated that the latent factors’ influence on the decision-making of SMEs in applying the green industry reflected by the influence of eighteen observable variables and it suggests that the external contexts from stakeholder have a greater influence on the decision-making than the internal context as organizational resources and capabilities. Whereas the level of certification conform with green industry criteria has minor correlation with the decision-making of SMEs. Innovative policy strategy is recommended to create synergy between incentive-based instruments in term of product charges or product tax, subsidies and voluntary measure as product certification are recommended tools to enhance green industry adoption by SMEs

Why Should Different City Characteristics Customize the Rate of Pollution Charge? Evidence of Factors Affecting Willingness-to-pay for Wastewater Management in Thailand

A challenge for wastewater management is enhancing the efficiency of resource allocation. Polluter Pays Principle is a wastewater charge collection approach that could help support the financial burden faced by many countries. Tailor-made policy implementation based on city characteristics is critical to the success of implementing a national policy to fit well in different local contexts. This study examined gaps for improving municipal wastewater management systems in Thailand through in-depth interviews and a questionnaire survey to identify the factors influencing households’ perception and willingness to pay in three different cities. A contingent variation method technique was used to evaluate the preferences of residents. The study revealed that different cities have different factors that influence willingness-to-pay decisions as well as pay-out levels. A single common factor positively affecting willingness-to-pay preference in all three cities is perception and engagement of wastewater treatment service. Citizens with a positive perception of receiving wastewater service are not only more likely to pay the wastewater charge, but also at a higher amount

Genotypic diversity within a natural coastal bacterioplankton population

Author Posting. © The Authors, 2005. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of American Association for the Advancement of Science for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Science 307 (2005): 1311-1313, doi:10.1126/science.1106028.The genomic diversity and relative importance of unique genotypes within natural bacterial populations has remained largely unknown. Here, we analyze the diversity and annual dynamics of a group of coastal bacterioplankton (>99% 16S rRNA identity to Vibrio splendidus). We show that this group consists of at least a thousand distinct genotypes, each occurring at extremely low environmental concentrations (on average <1 cell/ml). Overall, the genomes show extensive allelic diversity and size variation. Individual genotypes rarely recurred in samples and allelic distribution did not show spatial or temporal substructure. Ecological considerations suggest that much genotypic and possibly phenotypic variation within natural populations should be considered neutral.This work was supported by grants from the Department of Energy Genomes to Life program and the National Science Foundation. Sequences have been submitted to Genbank under accession numbers AY836800-AY837464

Correction: Challcharoenwattana, A., et al. Co-Benefits of Household Waste Recycling for Local Community’s Sustainable Waste Management in Thailand. Sustainability 2015, 7, 7417–7437

The author wishes to make corrections on the numbers shown in Table A3 of this paper [1]. [...

Co-Benefits of Household Waste Recycling for Local Community’s Sustainable Waste Management in Thailand

The study aimed to evaluate co-benefits in term of GHG reduction, and avoided landfill costs by implementing a community-based management (CBM) program for municipal solid waste (MSW). Two towns of peri-urban settlement in Thailand were investigated in case studies to compare eco-performance between the towns with and without implementation of the CBM program. MSW mass flows together with MSW utilization records were analyzed based on data in year 2013. Climate co-benefits from waste utilization activities were examined. Results from the study indicated that waste banks in the CBM program can effectively divert most of recyclables from entering landfills. The performance of “waste bank—recyclable recovery program” recycling rate from the case study with CBM is 172.20 kg per member per year, which is about 926% higher than average CBMs with MSW recycling in Thailand, and the success of CBM can be attributed to its curbside pickup service and fair-pricing of recyclables. The study also found that if the town decided to divert wastes from landfilling, carbon intensity of the MSW system would be 0.47 tons of CO2-eq per ton of collected MSW. The landfilling cost would be approximately 7.41 USD per ton of MSW as landfilling cost. With CBM programs, current MSW reutilization rate has achieved 9.68% of generated waste, and 16.80% of GHG emission has been avoided, along with a reduction in landfill costs of 11.57%. Two scenarios of waste utilization in Thailand were explored and compared, in terms of which scenarios yielded the highest co-benefits. The study demonstrates that by allowing local mechanism and community involvement programs to develop with operational waste banks, the efficiency of collecting recycling wastes increased. A similar system can be applied to other communities in other countries

Status and outlook for Thailand's low carbon electricity development

Thailand is facing an urgency to enhance its energy security and capacity to cope with global warming impacts, as demands on fossil fuel consumption keep rising. This paper reviewed the latest situation on renewable powers and developmental strategies toward low carbon electricity generation in Thailand. Government recently has spent tremendous financial and legislative supports to promote the uses of indigenous renewable energy resources and fuel diversification while contributing in reduction of global greenhouse gas. Major policy challenge is on which types of renewable energy should be more pronounced to ensure sustainable future of the country. Regions in Thailand present different potentials for renewable supply on biomass, municipal wastes, hydropower, and wind. To maximize renewable energy development in each area, location is matter. Currently, energy-derived biomass is widely utilized within the country, however if droughts happen more often and severe, it will not only affect food security but also energy security. Life cycle of biomass energy production may cause other social issues on land and chemical uses. Meanwhile, deployment of wind and solar energy has been slow and needs to speed up to the large extent in comparison with energy proportion from biomass. Nuclear power has already been included in the Thai power development plan 2010 (PDP-2010). However, public acceptance is a major issue. Setting up strategic renewable energy zone to support power producer according to pre-determined potential location may assist development direction. Furthermore, government has to strongly subsidize research and development to lower technology cost and promote private investment on renewable energy industry. In the future, revision of electricity price is needed to allow fair competition between non-renewable and renewable energy once subsidy programs are ended. Environmental tax according to fuel types could help government progressing toward low carbon electricity. Stimulating renewable energy development and utilization at local community is a key for Thai sufficiency economy.Low carbon electricity Renewable energy expansion Fuel diversification